If there is one industry that has withstood the fallout from the recent economic recession and continued to enjoy substantial consumer demand over the years, that would be the self-storage sector. A Daydaily.com article reports that the self-storage industry generated $22 billion in revenue back in 2011, mainly due to sustained market demand and the fact that many consumers tend to purchase more things than they actually need. In addition, a growing number of consumers opt to live in smaller homes and apartments in exchange for lower rent or mortgage payments.
Indeed, some companies that offer storage in Brooklyn cater to apartment dwellers who may have more living space than their Manhattan neighbors yet still require additional space for excess items. Self storage companies like Gibraltar Storage, thus, offer specific services for households, businesses, and students to accommodate nearly every item imaginable, from legal documents to furniture, or even vehicles. These services vary in terms of the items that can be stored, as well as the facilities each storage company can provide.
The article noted that as of 2012, 1 in 10 households in the United States rents or leases a storage locker. While the primary purpose of self-storage is to provide additional space, it also offers top-notch security and protection for important and/or fragile items such as antiques, artworks, and family heirlooms. Some companies like Gibraltar Storage even offer climate-controlled Brooklyn self storage facilities that can withstand harsh weather conditions.
The best self storage providers see to it that all items entrusted to them are packed and stored correctly with the use of packaging supplies like corrugated boxes and bubble wraps. Such packaging materials also facilitate the transport of delicate items. Interestingly, about 50 percent of all self-storage facilities in the country are found in suburban areas, where some people have since downsized and moved into more compact residences.
By working closely with moving companies, self-storage businesses can eventually lower their operating costs, making their services more affordable not only to business customers, but more so to retail customers. Additionally, for as long as many businesses use off-site facilities to store their documents for extended periods, the storage industry will always have enough “full-time” customers. In other words, the storage industry will remain strong for as long as consumers need additional space for items that require safekeeping.
Not surprisingly, competition within the self-storage industry is itself becoming stiffer. In any case, this thriving sector will continue to serve the needs of many American consumers.